Folk Bloodbath

Lyrics: Josh Ritter
Music: Traditional

No Grateful Dead connection, but an interesting merger of the songs Stagger Lee (the traditional version) and Louis Collins - sung to the tune of Louis Collins.

Louis Collins took a trip out West
And when he returned little Delia’d gone to rest
The angels laid her away

Louis said to Delia, that’s the sad thing with life
People always leaving just as other folks arrive
The angels laid her away

When the people heard that Delia was dead
All them gentlemen they dressed in red
The angels laid her away

The angels laid her away
Laid her six feet under the clay
The angels laid her away

Louis went downtown for a new suit of clothes
Gonna dress up for Delia like a fine red rose
The angels laid him away

He bought a ten-gallon Stetson it was oxblood red
Then Stackalee shot Louis in the back of the head
The angels laid him away

Stackalee said to Louis, oh now, don’t you grieve
I’m sending you to Delia you won’t ever have to leave
The angels laid him away

The angels laid him away
Laid him six feet under the clay
The angels laid him away

The Judge was a mean one, his name was Hangin’ Billy Lyons
He said, you always been a bad man, Stack, you’re gonna hang this time
And the angels lay you away

And the Jailer said to Stackalee, “wat’s the problem with you
Oh, Jailer, Louis Collins ghost brought Delia’s with him too
The angels laid him away

The angels laid him away
Laid him six feet under the clay
The angels laid him away

They buried little Delia in the churchyard deep
Louis Collins at her head, Stackalee at her feet
The angels laid them away

And out of Delia’s bed came briars, out of Louis’ bed a rose
And out of Stackalee’s came Stackalee’s cold lonely little ghost
The angels laid them away

And I’m looking over rooftops and I’m hoping that it ain’t true
That the same God looked out for them looks out for me and you
The angels laid them away